Trains and Canadians

[TC Chris]

This week's Juke Joint blue show will feature train songs, for you railroad fans. Just search on "WCMU" and stream it, or after Monday g there for the archived show. It airs at 8 p.m. today.

My public radio station leads into the blue show with two hours of American Routes, a really distinguished show, and they opened with Jerry Lee Lewis singing "Singing Hallelujah All the Way." Let's just say that it required a large upward adjustment to the volume control. This week's focus is country music. (Upate: the just played Hank Williams).

Canadians? Last night while I was re-covering the dock padding for my sailboat, the radio was playing a bunch of Lightfoot tunes. What wonderful melancholy. And today while varnishing on the boat I had a tape of Stan Rogers playing. That meant working with a big lump in my throat. Stan was a Canadian folkie/songwriter who was killed in an airplane fire at Cincinnati. I was lucky enough to hear him live several times. Like John Prine in the U.S., he had an instinctive feel for ordinary people. Stan added an intense Canadian pride and sense of history. His songs about sailors and farmers Canadian history and people who work are unmatched. On top of his writing skills and sympathies, he had a glorious baritone voice. Sometimes i go too long between listens to Stan Rogers and when I come back, I'm humbled and astonished all over again. Do an online search.

Chris Campbell

[Firedome]

We have AR every sat from 6 to 8 PM, when PHC used to be on.
Never heard of Stan Rogers, will have to check him out.
Sounds a bit like Woodie Guthrie.
Gordon Lightfoot, RIP,

[TC Chris]

I encourage everybody to check out Stan Rogers. Long ago, when he was still alive, I played a cassette tape of one of his albums at work. Two younger secretaries were absolutely smitten with him, which surprised me. His songs are musically well composed and the lyrics are thoughtful. I just checked--he was only 33 when he perished in an airline fire.

Chris Campbell